Business Law and Social Responsibility GENB 3301.002
Monday, 6:00-8:45 pm
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT TYLER
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
FALL 2017
COURSE NUMBER:GENB 3301.002
COURSE TITLE:BUSINESS LAW & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
INSTRUCTOR:JASON D. MAZINGO, J.D.
REQUIRED TEXT:The Legal Environment of Business, Text and Cases, 10th Ed. By Cross & Miller. Cengage Learning, 2015. You must purchase either the text and Mind Tap learning platform or the Mind Tap e-book and learning platform. You can also rent the textbook and purchase just the Mind Tap access.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the legal environment of business, legal reasoning, and historical perspective. The influence on economic activity by regulatory agencies in their pursuit of public policy goals is stressed. This course also includes an introduction to business and professional ethics.
CLASS MEETING: Monday, 6:00-8:45 pm
TEACHING METHOD: Lecture, case analysis, and class discussion.
PHONE NUMBER: 903-630-7123
OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment Only
E-mail:
Course Information:
ALL GRADES, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ETC. WILL BE POSTED ON CANVAS.
TOPICS COVERED:
General Legal Principles 12 hrs.
Ethics2.5 hrs.
Business Organizations 16 hrs.
Administrative Agencies 7 hrs.
Total37.5 hrs
Student Evaluation
Your course grade will be based on Exams and your Attendance/Participation as follows:
1. Four Exams (100 points each)400
2. Assignments (5 @ 20 pts each)100
3. Participation 20
Total Points Possible520
Grades will be determined based on your total number of points earned, as follows:
A = 468-520 points; B = 416-467 points; C = 364-415 points; D = 312-363 points
Exams
Four semester exams and a final exam will be given, each worth 100 points. Each exam will contain (50) multiple-choice questions. These questions will require you to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of substantive law and terminology, as well as the ability to apply the law to or analyze specific fact situations. Students will be asked to select the best answer among multiple choice answers. Each student is required to bring a Scantron 882 answer sheet to each exam. Neither the semester exams nor the final will be comprehensive. At the end of the semester, your highest exam grade will replace your lowest exam grade. I EXPECT YOU TO BE PRESENT FOR EXAMS. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM,UNLESS SOMETHING TRULY UNFORESEEN TAKES PLACE, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP AN EXAM.
There will be five exams. Your best four exam grades will be counted.
Assignments
There will be 1 assignment given prior to each exam during the semester. The assignments will be posted on Mind Tap or Blackboard and should be submitted before the date specified in the assignment posting. The Assignments will all be different and will require you to find and use information discussed in the text. Each assignment is worth 20 points. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Attendance/Participation
Credit for class participation may be gained by discussing cases in class as designated in the syllabus and by participating in class discussions. [Note: You may also be specifically asked to discuss a particular case in class with no prior notice. Your preparation (or lack of preparation) to discuss a case will be noted and considered in determining your participation grade.] Also, a student may receive some participation credit for attendance upon signing the roll at the beginning of class. Additional participation credit will be assigned by the instructor’s subjective assessment of your approach to the class and course work, industry and preparation for class, meaningful oral participation during class, punctual attendance, and quality of written work. Likewise, participation points will be deducted for a lack of attention, cell phone and laptop or tablet use during class. Your participation grade at the end of the semester will be comprised of the percentage of classes you have attended and participation credit given for participation and discussion of cases.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
A. KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES OF THIS COURSE INCLUDE:
1. To apply ethical theories to business situations.
2. To understand basic legal theory.
3. To apply basic legal procedure.
4. To understand constitutional issues in the law.
5. To apply theories of tort law.
6. To demonstrate knowledge of intellectual property laws.
7. To understand principles of criminal law.
8. To compare the legal aspects of various business forms.
9. To understand corporate shareholder issues.
10. To apply principles of agency law.
11. To understand administrative agency laws.
B. COMPETENCIES TO BE DEMONSTRATED IN THIS COURSE INCLUDE:
1. COMPUTER-BASED SKILLS:
a. WORD PROCESSING: Preparation of assignment papers
b. INTERNET SEARCH SKILLS: Completion of assignments
2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
a. WRITTEN
1. REPORT ORGANIZATION: Preparation of assignment in appropriate format and analysis
2. REFERENCING: Use of proper reference of sources in assignments
3. PROBLEM SOLVING (CRITICAL THINKING):
a. CONCEPTUAL THINKING: Use precedent and stare decisis to analyze legal issues in assignments and discussion board posts.
b. CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: Use precedent and staredecisis to analyze legal issues in assignments and discussion board posts. Formulate ways to prevent legal problems.
4. ETHICAL ISSUES IN DECISION MAKING AND BEHAVIORS: Discuss ethical problems and missteps in cases presented in class and develop ways to prevent ethical conflict in similar scenarios.
5. PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT: Students must monitor grade progress and all projects must be completed on time. No make-up work is allowed.
6. COMPETENCE IN BASIC BUSINESS PRINCIPLES:
a. COMPETENCE IN MAJOR FIELD AND GROUNDING IN OTHER MAJOR CORE AREAS: There is broad coverage of general business topics (described in more detail below), as well as some discussion of marketing issues in consumer law, management and accounting issues in discussion of business organizations, and finance issues in securities law and corporate law.
b. AWARENESS OF INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS DOMESTIC IMPLICATIONS OF BUSINESS DECISIONS: Discussand analyze cases involving international jurisdiction issues and antitrust issues with international implications. Relate international perspective to business organizations.
c. UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF STRATEGIC IMPACT OF BUSINESS DECISIONS: Compare and contrast tax and liability issues in various business organizations; discuss various administrative agencies and their important impact on all business organizations.
C. OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS COURSE INCLUDE: Mastery of the above objectives as demonstrated by satisfactory completion of questions on each of five exams; Successful completion of required assignments.
Grade Replacement
If you are repeating this course for a grade replacement, you must file an intent to receive grade forgiveness with the registrar by the 12th day of class. Failure to file an intent to use grade forgiveness will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. A student will receive grade forgiveness (grade replacement) for only three (undergraduate student) or two (graduate student) course repeats during his/her career at UT Tyler.
Writing Center Information
Located in BUS 202, the UT-Tyler Writing Center provides professional writing tutoring for all students. If you wish to use the Writing Center, you should plan in advance for a minimum of two hour-long tutorials per assignment: the first to assess your needs, and the second to follow up. Be prepared to take an active role in your learning, as you will be asked to discuss your work. While Writing Center tutors are happy to give constructive criticism and teach effective writing techniques, they will under no circumstances write your paper for you. Appointments are strongly encouraged: call 903-565-5995. Visit
Course Disclaimer
This course is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the laws and issues presented. The information contained in this course may not be applicable to all situations due to the generality of our discussions, the evolution of case law, and the necessity of interpretive guidance. For these reasons, nothing contained in this course should be relied upon without the benefit of legal and financial advice based on the particular circumstances presented. Furthermore, the policy of the State Bar of Texas prohibits the Instructor from providing legal advice to students. Students seeking individual legal advice are encouraged to contact their respective attorneys, or the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Service (800-252-9690).
Disabilities
In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Student Accessibility and Resources Office. If you have a disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, please contact their office in UC 3150, or call (903) 566-7079.
College of Business Statement of Ethics
The ethical problems facing local, national and global business communities are an ever-increasing challenge. It is essential the College of Business & Technology help students prepare for lives of personal integrity, responsible citizenship, and public service. In order to accomplish these goals, both students and faculty of the College of Business & Technology at The University of Texas at Tyler will:
- Ensure honesty in all behavior, never cheating or knowingly giving false information.
- Create an atmosphere of mutual respect for all students and faculty regardless of race, creed, gender, age or religion.
- Develop an environment conducive to learning.
- Encourage and support student organizations and activities.
- Protect property and personal information from theft, damage and misuse.
- Conduct yourself in a professional manner both on and off campus.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY CORE VALUES
- PROFESSIONAL PROFICIENCY
- TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETENCE
- GLOBAL AWARENESS
- SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- ETHICAL COURAGE
Academic Dishonesty Statement
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree,it is imperative that a student demonstrates a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but isnotlimited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment of the award of a degree, and/or the submission, as one’s own work of material that isnot one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.
University regulations require the instructor to report all suspected cases of academic dishonesty to Student Affairs for disciplinary action. In the event disciplinary measures are imposed on the student, it becomes part of the students’ official school records. Also, please note that the handbook obligates you to report all observed cases of academic dishonesty to the instructor.
Reading Assignments and Course Schedule:
Listed below are the reading assignments and course schedule for this semester. You are responsible for the reading assignments on the dates listed even if the class discussion has not kept pace.
August / 28 / Introduction & Syllabus andChapter 1 – Law and Legal Reasoning
Chapter 2 – Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution
September / 11 / Chapter 3 – Court Procedures
Chapter 4 – Business and the Constitution
18 / Exam 1 (Chapters 1-4);
Chapter 6 – Tort Law
25 / Chapter 7 – Strict Liability and Product Liability
Chapter 8 – Intellectual Property Rights
October / 2 / Chapter 9 – Internet Law, Social Media and Privacy
Chapter 10 – Criminal Law and Cyber Crime
9 / Exam 2 (Chapters 6-10)
Chapter 5 – Business Ethics
16 / Chapter 12 – Formation of Traditional and E-Contracts
Chapter 13 – Contract Performance, Breach, and Remedies
23 / Chapter 14 – Sales and Lease Contracts
Chapter 15 – Creditor-Debtor Relations and Bankruptcy
30 / Exam 3 (Chapters 5; 12-15)
Chapter 16 – Small Businesses and Franchises
November / 6 / Chapter 17 – Limited Liability Business Forms
Chapter 18 – Corporations
13 / Chapter 19 – Agency Relationships
Chapter 20 – Employment Law
Chapter 21 – Employment Discrimination
27 / Exam 4 (Chapters 16-21)
Chapter 24 – Consumer Protection
December / 4 / Chapter 25 – Environmental Law
Chapter 27 – Antitrust Law
Chapter 28 – Investor Protection and Corporate Governance
12 (week of) / Final Exam (Chapters 24-28)